Forty seven years ago today, American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. His famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” summed up the significance of the event.

Just as the first man walking on the moon was a uniquely American moment, America’s beverage companies represent a uniquely American industry that is full of innovative firsts.

In 2006, America’s beverage companies made a commitment to remove full-calorie soft drinks from all schools across the country and replace them with more lower-calorie and smaller-portion choices. As a result of this ambitious effort we slashed beverage calories in schools by more than 90 percent and successfully changed the beverage landscape in schools across the country. This voluntary step by the beverage industry later helped form the basis of the beverage component of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s regulations for foods and beverages sold in schools. Today, when you walk into a school, you will still see our commitment at work.

More than six years ago, America’s beverage companies partnered with First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative and began voluntarily placing calorie labels on the front of every can, bottle and pack we produce. We want our consumers to have clear, fact-based information at their fingertips so they can make the choice that's best for them and their families. Since that time other industries have followed suit and consumers are better off because of it.

Recently, we have undertaken the most ambitious voluntary effort by an industry to help fight obesity with our Balance Calories Initiative. In partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, our companies are putting competition aside and working together on this bold, unprecedented initiative to cut calories and sugar intake in the American diet. To meet our goal of reducing beverage calories in the American diet by 20 percent by 2025, America’s beverage companies are using our marketing muscle, product innovation, distribution strength and education to drive consumer behavior changes and help improve America’s health.

America achieved its goal of being the first nation to walk on the moon through ingenuity, hard work and determination. Similarly, America’s beverage industry is committed to leading the way toward meaningful and lasting solutions through collaboration and innovation.

To learn more about how America’s beverage companies are leading, visit http://deliveringchoices.org/.